ADHD + Executive Functioning with Curious Conversations

On Friday March 7th, I had the pleasure of attending the “What the EF? Executive Function Explained” training offered by Allison Mattingly, CPLC & Executive Function Coach of Curious Conversations HTX.

What is Executive Functioning?

Executive functioning refers to a set of cognitive skills that help us manage and regulate our behavior, thoughts, and emotions to achieve goals. These skills are crucial for planning, problem-solving, decision-making, and self-control. They are typically controlled by the prefrontal cortex of the brain and are developed over time, often becoming more refined as we grow. Individuals with ADHD are significantly impacted with executive functioning dysregulation, so I was enthralled to learn more about how to serve this community.

ADHD + Executive Functioning

People with ADHD may sometimes be perceived as lacking an intellectual component, but this is a misconception. The true issue lies in the difficulty with implementing tasks and actions. In therapy, we assist individuals in identifying the areas of executive dysfunction, which allows us to develop strategies to cope or compensate.

Dr. Russel Barkley 7 Executive Functions:

Self-Awareness - How we monitor what we do, how others react to it, and how we adjust or alter our behavior based on external feedback. Deficits in this area may present as a person having difficulty understanding how thier behavior affects others. Individuals may also be labeled as immature, self-centered, or egotistical.

Behavior Inhibition – the capacity to think before you act, weighing impacts, and considering consequences. Deficits in this area can present as impulsivity, impatience, outbursts or “off the cuff” comments and difficulty stopping a task once it is started.

Non-Verbal Working Memory – use of time, past experiences, and foresight to make future decisions based on your own and others experiences. People who experience difficulty with executive functioning may experience “time blindness” or other struggles with time estimation and may repeatedly make similar mistakes without “learning the lesson”.

Verbal Working Memory – self talk or self-narration that assists with problem solving and formulating rules and plans, as well as, reading and listening comprehension. Individuals who struggle with verbal working memory may struggle to remember or comprehend what is said or read. They may also struggle with following rules or following rules too rigidly. Severe deficit in this area is aligned with criminality.

Emotional Regulation – control of internal and external activation. Poor emotional regulation can lead to impulsive emotional outbursts and/or emotional responses that are disproportionate to the even.

Self-Motivation – ability to motivate and persist without external rewards or punishments. Individuals who struggle with self motivation may quit tasks before they are complete, or struggle to start daily tasks.

Planning & Prioritizing – considering options, deciding on sequence, and playing with information to direct goals and innovation. Many people who experience executive dysfunction struggle with organization.

As a therapist who works with children, teens and young adults, I work with clients every single day who expereince varying degrees of executive dysfunction. Attending the workshop was truly an enriching experience. The skills and strategies I learned to help clients with ADHD improve their executive functioning are not only practical but deeply impactful.

I am excited to bring these new insights into my practice and feel more equipped than ever to support clients in overcoming challenges related to attention, organization, and time management. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to learn from someone as knowledgeable and passionate as Allison, whose expertise has undoubtedly expanded my understanding of ADHD and executive function coaching. I look forward to continuing to apply these transformative techniques moving forward.

If you are someone who is struggling with ADHD and/or executive functioning, please know we are here to help and support you!